Automatic gate



Sept. 23, 1941. J. L. BLAKER AUTOMATIC GATE Filed Nov. 29, 1959' 2 Shets-Sheet 1 F L wwmwwwwwvm 3- ATTORNEYS WITNESS Sept 23, 1941. J. BLAKER AUTOMATIC GATE Filed Nov. 29, 193 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 23, 1941 AUTOMATIC GATE James L. Blaker, Blaker Mills, W. Va.

Application November 29, 1939, Serial N 0. 306,752

1 Claim. (C1. 39-18) This invention relatesto automatic gates and has for an object. to provide a gate pivotally mounted at. the bottom and adapted to swing from the vertical to the horizontal upon the approach of a vehicle and to automatically return to Vertical position as soon as the vehicle has passed.

A further object is to provide a gate which will be operated by a track over which the vehicle passes. the track being supported by crank shafts arranged in axial alignment across the roadway and having a crank shaft connection with the gate to open the gate when the track is depressed by the weight of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a gate structure having actuating plates hinged to the ends of the rails of the track and to the track support, and adapted to readily pivot when struck by the fender or Vehicle wheels and rock the track down to receive the weight of the vehicle for opening the gate in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a gate of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being under stood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic ate cosntructed in accordance with the invention and disposed on level ground.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the gate shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the gate taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the gate taken on the line l4 of Figure l and showing the springs which co-act with the weights in Supporting the track in raised position.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gate taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective View of the gate showing the crankshafts thereof.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the gate shown mounted, on sloping ground.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, In designates a. platform adapted to extend longitudinally upon the roadway and having sills H disposed on the top face at the longitudinal edges thereof. Two crank .shaftsIZ, oneat. each end of the platform, are provided; at the .ends with crank arms [3 which are journaled in bearings 4. formed in the inner faces of the sills andalignedacross the roadway.

A track is secured to the crank shafts and comprises a pair of spaced rails 15, formed of any desired material, and provided on their underneath faces with bearings I6 which are bolted as shown at I1, or otherwise secured to the rails. These bearings loosely receive the shafts l2 near the crank arms I3, as best shown in Figure 2, and permit the rails to be elevated by the cranks to released position or to be lowered by the cranks to operative position.

Actuating plates l8 are pivotally secured to the platform and to the overlying end of each rail by hinge pintles l9 and 29 projecting from the platform and rail and received in hinge eyes 2| and 22 formed on the ends of the plates. The plates at one end of the track are struck by the bumper or wheels of an approaching vehicle to rock the track forwardly and downwardly in the direction of travel of the vehicle to open the gate as will now be described.

As best shown in Figure 3 the gate is preferably formed of metal rods or tubing although other material may be employed. The gate comprises an inverted U-shaped lower frame member 23 which is provided at the lower ends with crank arms 24. Bearings 25 are secured to the underneath faces of the central portions of the rails I5, these bearings being aligned transversely of the roadway, and receiving the crank arms 24. An upper inverted U-shaped frame member 26 forms the top and sides of the gate.

Th frame members 23 and 26 are connected together by a U-shaped intermediate frame member 21, the lower transverse portion of which is pivotally secured to the platform ID by U-bolts 28. The legs of the intermediate member are provided with eyes 29 which receive the transverse member of the upper frame member 26 and are also provided with sockets 30 which receive the transverse member of the lower frame member 23.

When the weight of the vehicle comes upon the rails the crank arms 24 will carry the gate downwardly and forwardly in the direction of travel of the vehicle since the intermediate frame member 2'! of the gate is pivotally secured to the 33 to elevate the weights.

I5 are relieved of the weight of the vehicle the r platform, and is fixedly secured to both frame members of the gate.

For returnin t e gate to vertical position after each actuation, weights 3| are connected to the lower ends of cables 33 which are trained over pulleys 34 secured to the upper ends of gate posts 35 disposed'on opposite sides of the roadway. The cables are connected at the ends to levers 36 which are secured to and extend upwardly from the outer ends of the crank arms 24 of the gate. When; the gate is opened in either direction the levers 36 will be rocked in a corresponding direction and will pull on the cables As soon as the rails weights 3| gravitate and pull back the levers 36 to upright position thereby returning vertical closed position.

For co-acting with the weights helical springs 31 are connected at the lower ends to the crank arms vl3 .of the. crank shafts l2 and are con- ;nected at the upper ends to respective gate posts 38 arranged at the ends of the track on opposite sidesof the roadway..

" In the event the gate must' 'be set upon a the gate to v 39 is disposed laterally of theplatform' 40 on the low side of the roadway and is connected to a downwardly extending lever 41 which is connected to the crank arm 42 of the lower frame member 43 of the gate Since the operation of the gate has been described as th description of the parts progressed, it is thought the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

An automatic gate comprising an inverted U- shapedlower .frame member provided at the lowerends. with crankv arms, an upper inverted U-shaped frame member forming the top and sides of the gate, a U-shapedintermediate frame member connecting together the first and second named frame members, a platform to which the transverse member of the U-shaped intermediate frame member is pivotally connected, sills disposed longitudinally on the platform, track rails for a vehicle above the sills, means pivotally securing the crank arms of the lower frame member to the track rails, crank arms connecting the track rails to the sills in such manner that when an approaching vehicle strikes the track rails the track rails willbe lowered and the gate will be swung fromwerticalclosed position to horizontal open position upon the track rails, and means connected to the last named crank arms :fo'r'holding the crank arms to dispose the-gate normally in closed position. JAMES L. BLAKER. 

